Manila Bulletin, Philippines : 35 persons nabbed for illegal fishing

04/05/2003

35 persons nabbed for illegal fishing

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan - The PNP Headquarters here reported yesterday the arrest of 35 persons who were caught in the act of illegal fishing along the province's coastal areas.

In his report, Senior Supt. Sahiron Dulah Salim, Bataan PNP director, said that 26 persons were arrested for violation of Municipal ordinance against trawl fishing in their 10 total number of operations.

Salim said, however, that based on the municipal ordinance law, the persons arrested can avail themselves of bail bond. They were later released after paying penalty imposed on them.

In a separate operations, Salim said that nine persons were also arrested for using homemade dynamite with blasting caps, dangerous fishing gadget being used illegally by the unscrupulous fishermen here.

He said that a total of 480 kilograms of dynamited fish were also confiscated from the suspects. "This is the result of our intensified campaign against illegal fishing and sea piracy which is a continuing operation to protect our coastal areas from these illegal fishers," said Salim.

Salim, the firstever PNP Muslim appointed as PNP director in Luzon, is often seen by newsmen leading the operations against illegal fishing, antipiracy, anti-insurgency and other combat operations, boosting further the morale of his men in the field.